"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gatecrash, happy?"

Luna watched the scene unfold not without some curiosity. She wondered briefly why Draco had tried to gatecrash a Christmas party... he didn't seem like a particularly festive person. Of course that was just a façade, though. Luna was one of the very few people that saw through it. She fought her way through the crowd towards him.

"Hello, Draco.

He blinked and then sneered. "Lovegood."

"You try too hard, Draco."

"What?"

"It's just an act, Draco. You don't have to be so cold all the time. Empty words don't make things right."

Draco looked at her, astonished. She smiled. A slow song began to play, and almost everyone around them coupled off.

"Er -- would you like to dance?" he asked, still somewhat at a loss for words.

Luna's smile broadened. "I'd love to."

Draco took her hand and placed his on her waist. She was so fragile, so delicate, he was almost afraid of breaking her. He didn't know what to say to her, still recovering from what she had said earlier.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," she said seriously.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied coldly.

Luna raised her eyebrows. Draco's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh don't be silly. But there is one thing I'd like to know. Why do you keep this façade? Who is forcing you to act this way?" She seemed genuinely concerned.

He almost smiled but caught himself in time. "Well, my father for one... god, why am I telling you this, of all people?"

"I don't know," Luna replied. "Perhaps because you want to?"

Draco found he couldn't argue with that extraordinary statement.

"Luna!"

She turned at the sound of her name only to find Ginny making her way through the dancing couples.

"Oh, hello, Ginny," Luna said pleasantly.

"Luna, the most incredible thing just happened, you have simply got to see it!" Ginny said breathlessly and grinned.

Draco knew that his time with Luna was over.

"I hope you don't mind," she said hesitantly once Ginny vanished among the partyers.

"Can't you at least stay until the song's over?" Draco asked cautiously, careful not to reveal too many of his true feelings.

"Luna, come quick!" Ginny called from the other side of the room.

"I'd really love to, but..." Luna's voice trailed off.

"All right, then," Draco said coldly and released Luna.

Her eyes looked unsure.

Suddenly, Draco felt Luna's arms around him.

"I wish I could stay," she whispered and pressed her lips to his cheek.

During those brief moments that Draco held her, he was sure he'd never been happier.

And then Luna left.

"Look, Luna! We turned Crabbe and Goyle into mice and now that giant enchanted canary's trying to eat them!"

Luna smiled halfheartedly, her mind on Draco. "That's very cool," she said. "I suppose I should be getting back to the person I was dancing with..."

She almost ran to where she was before. But by the time she got there, Draco was long gone.

A/N: I love it, if I do say so myself. What do you think? Review please. And when you're done, read "Endlessly" by luscious...